Photon counting X-ray detectors from DECTRIS

PILATUS3 R

Rigaku Oxford Diffraction offers the PILATUS3 R 200K as an optional detector for single crystal systems. PILATUS3 R detectors are true photon counting devices that combine the following features to make them suitable detectors for protein crystallography:

• the highest sensitivity
• the lowest readout noise
• the fastest readout time
• the lowest point spread function
• fully air-cooled and maintenance free

Whether you’re collecting data for small or weakly diffracting samples or collecting data for S-SAD phasing, a Rigaku Oxford Diffraction system configured with a PILATUS3 R detector ensures the most accurate data collection for your samples. The PILATUS3 R 200K is also ideal for high throughput screening and ligand binding studies, especially when coupled with an ACTOR automatic sample changer.

Why the HPAD detector?

There are basically four types of detectors currently being used with single crystal diffractometers: HPAD, CCD, CMOS, and IP. The HPAD is the newest technology and is unique in that it is a photon counting detector that directly detects X-ray photons without the intermediate step of converting the photons to light with a phosphor. The HPAD detector allows for shutterless data collection due to the extremely fast readout. This capability eliminates errors in the diffraction data originating from shutter timing and goniometer stop/starts, which are invariably associated with traditional data collection, and minimizes data collection time. In addition, the extremely low noise characteristics means that you can count poorly diffracting samples for a long period of time without swamping the signal with electronic noise. The combination of these features means that you will collect better data faster.